Advice for Deferred Applications
If you applied early to colleges, you may soon be very familiar with the word deferral. While most of the nation’s colleges noted a decrease in early applicants this year, early applications to the elite schools actually increased significantly. What does it mean? Being deferred basically means the school wants to reconsider you along with the next pool of candidates in regular decision. It is not a denial.
If you applied early to colleges, you may soon be very familiar with the word deferral. While most of the nation’s colleges noted a decrease in early applicants this year, early applications to the elite schools actually increased significantly. Some schools such as Duke, Yale and Dartmouth actually received historical high numbers. As these numbers of applications rose this year, so did the number of deferrals. Getting deferred is unfortunately quite common and this year even more so.
What does it mean? Being deferred basically means the school wants to reconsider you along with the next pool of candidates in regular decision. It is not a denial. They will take into context the profiles of the regular decision applicants along with any additional information you send about yourself and make their final decision in the next round. While the regular decision pool is typically not quite as strong as that of early application, there are many more applications to consider. Many colleges typically defer around half of their early applications to the regular decision pool. Some such as Georgetown actually defer all students who were not accepted in the early application period (nearly 90% of their early applicants this year). Statistics on the percentage of students deferred and then eventually accepted are hard to come by, but in general, the numbers are not high.
What should you do? Many schools will give you specific requests for more information such as updated grades, additional letters of recommendation or details on activities. Whatever they ask, make sure you follow. If they do not make any requests, you should be certain to maintain or improve your grades and submit any new materials which would enhance your application along with a letter to admissions reaffirming your interest.
Keep in mind that if you are deferred, you are no longer required to attend that college if eventually accepted. You can continue to apply to other colleges of via regular decision. If you no longer wish to be considered, inform the college of your decision and free up that space for another student. Remember, being deferred is basically a second chance for consideration, but you should definitely give yourself other options.
Admissions Decisions
As the admissions decisions are rolling in, students could be faced with several different responses. It is important that you weigh your options and make a decision you are happy with. While you may be disappointed with some of the responses you receive, remember that there is a college for you! This is why you created a 'list you love' to start with.
As the admissions decisions are rolling in, students could be faced with several different responses. It is important that you weigh your options and make a decision you are happy with. While you may be disappointed with some of the responses you receive, remember that there is a college for you! This is why you created a 'list you love' to start with.
DEFERRED
If you applied early to colleges, you may soon be very familiar with the word deferral. Getting deferred is not necessarily a bad thing. It just means that the college would like to reconsider you along with the next pool of candidates. Chances are, the pool of candidates in regular decision is not quite as strong as those in early action or early decision and as the numbers of early applications continue to increase, more students will be deferred. Unfortunately, statistics on the percentage of students deferred and then eventually accepted are hard to come by, but in general, colleges defer around half of their early applications to the regular decision pool. For example, last year Yale deferred 55%, Middleburg deferred just 17%, and Harvard deferred over 70% of the early applicants.
What should you do? Some colleges will give you specific requests for more information such as grade reports or additional letters of recommendation. Others will straight tell you not to send anything else. Whatever they ask, make sure you follow. If they do not make any requests, you should do everything you can to improve your chances. Keep your grades up and write a letter to admissions reaffirming your interest. Basically do as you would if you were waitlisted (read below).
Keep in mind that if you are deferred, you are no longer required to attend that college if eventually accepted. You should continue to apply to other colleges of interest. If you no longer wish to be considered, inform the college of your decision and free up that space for another student. Remember, being deferred is basically a second chance for consideration, but you should still keep other options open.
WAITLISTED
Almost 40% of colleges use a wait list and they put an average of 10% of all students applying on to that list to fill spots of students who do not accept their offers of admission. Unfortunately, these lists often give students a sense of false hope as the chances of actually being taken off of the waitlist are very slim. In 2016, an overall average of 23% of students on waitlists eventually got accepted and an even lower 14% were accepted from the lists of highly selective schools. So as can be expected, the more selective the school, the lower the chance that you will be taken off of the list.
If you are one of the the small group of students waitlisted, there are several things you can and should do. First, decide if you are truly still interested in the school and even want to be on the waitlist. Consider your chances of actually being taken off of that list. You can also contact admissions and find out where you stand on the list. Are there different pools? If so, are you in the priority? Do you really want to wait it out? Colleges may not inform you of the final decision until after the May 1 National Decision Day when they have a good idea of who has accepted their offers of admission. If you do decide to wait it out, make sure you have your backup school lined up and are ready to submit the deposit before the deadline if you are not pulled from the waitlist in time. Second, do everything you can to improve your chances of being taken off. Write a letter to admissions reaffirming your interest in the school and your hopes of attending. Continue to remain in contact with your local admissions representative and keep them updated with your grades and test scores, particularly things which show progress/improvement since you applied.
ACCEPTED
Congratulations! You officially have until May 1 to make your deposit and enroll in your chosen college. It is important to pay attention to applications and deadlines to enroll in extras such as orientation programs, spring accepted student events, and different housing options. Some of those go on a first come, first serve basis, so do not wait until May 1 if you are sure of where you want to go! It should go without saying, but as always, continue to keep up your grades and send in any final reports requested.
ACCEPTED TO BRANCH/PARTNER CAMPUS, INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM or SUMMER SEMESTER
Some students may open their acceptance letters to find unexpected responses. There are several types of non-traditional acceptances various colleges currently offer. Some examples include acceptance to one of NYU's international campuses for the first year, Notre Dame's Gateway program at Holy Cross College, or a summer semester before you join the rest of the freshman class on campus. While you may be disappointed or confused by these offers, they are definitely worth consideration. They are indeed still acceptances and offer great experiences to bond with a smaller group of students before merging with the rest of your class on the main campus.
DENIED
While it certainly isn’t a decision you were hoping for or in some instances expected, chances are you are going to get a few of these. Allow yourself a moment to be upset and then MOVE ON! Consider your other options and decide which remaining colleges are the best fits. The whole purpose of applying to a balanced list of colleges was to give yourself several different options for when decisions like this come in. You should have many other great options on your list and if you do not, it is not too late to apply to more. Many schools have application deadlines which span into the Spring. Also, if you are denied from an ED I or EA pool, you could consider applying ED II to another school. Various top colleges have ED II deadlines early to mid January, so there is still time to get those applications in.
Whatever those admissions letters may reveal, you ALWAYS have options. Take the time to make a decision which is in YOUR best interest. There is a school for everyone, you just have to look for it.
What Comes Next?
After applications are submitted and the giant feeling of relief has subsided, most students begin to wonder what to do next. Each school has their own timeline for when they will inform applicants of their admissions decision. In general, schools which have rolling admissions take 2-3 weeks, schools with Nov. 1 EA will inform you between mid December and end of January, and schools with RD in January will inform you by end of February or March. So what do you while you wait?
After applications are submitted and the giant feeling of relief has subsided, most students begin to wonder what to do next. Each school has their own timeline for when they will inform applicants of their admissions decision. In general, schools which have rolling admissions take 2-3 weeks, schools with Nov. 1 EA will inform you between mid December and end of January, and schools with RD in January will inform you by end of February or March. So what do you do while you wait?
Most schools give applicants an account on their website for you to be able to login and check the status of your application. Make sure you have logged in and checked that the colleges have received all of your application requirements. While doing this, keep in mind that it may take some time for the websites to be updated as colleges are inundated with materials around their deadlines. If about a week after the deadline you still see that your application is missing something, follow up with the admissions office to find out what to do. Although some colleges will send you a friendly reminder that something is missing, you do not want to rely on that.
If you do indeed find out that something is missing, do not overreact. Remember, with so many documents and emails being sent back and forth during such a short time span, it is very easy for something to get lost in the shuffle. If what is missing can be taken care of by you, do it right away. If it is something a counselor, teacher, or testing agency should have taken care of, politely follow up with them yourself. Whatever it may be, respectfully ask them to resend the materials as soon as they can. Confirm with the admissions office that you have taken care of it and verify if they have received the missing materials. While doing all of this, it is important that you advocate for yourself and be patient. Admissions would much rather hear from the students themselves than from a parent or counselor. You want to show them you are ready for college right?
It should go without saying, but keep working hard and maintaining or improving your grades. Colleges ask for mid and final reports from your counselor for a reason! If you are given admission to a college and your grades sink, they have the right to revoke their offer. On the other hand, if you end up getting deferred or waitlisted, you want to be able to show progress to improve your chances of acceptance. No matter what your situation is, continuing to work hard and get good grades can only help.
Now try to relax and wait for your admissions decisions to roll in! Remember, there is a school for everyone and it will work out. Stay tuned for my next article on what to do if you are waitlisted or deferred and how to weigh your options.
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